The USA delivered Abrams tanks for the training of Ukrainians to Germany

The United States delivered 31 M1 Abrams tanks to Germany to train Ukrainian crews.

Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, Pentagon Press Secretary, announced this.

The training will not only prepare crews to operate the US tanks in battle but will also prepare maintenance personnel to keep them operational.

The tanks have arrived in Grafenwoehr, Germany.

Ukrainian crews are expected to arrive in Germany and start training on M1 Abrams tanks in the upcoming weeks.

Last month, the United States announced that it plans to launch the M1 Abrams tank training program for Ukrainian crews in June this year.

Last week, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced that the Armed Forces of Ukraine will receive American Abrams tanks in early autumn. This is also when the Ukrainian military training programs on these combat vehicles should be completed.

As previously reported, instead of Abrams M1A2 promised in January of this year, the Defense Forces of Ukraine will receive M1A1 tanks, but sooner.

The U.S. originally planned to purchase new M1A2 Abrams tanks to send to Ukraine, using funds from the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative. However, they decided to withdraw the equipment from the U.S. Armed Forces reserves. Before shipping, the tanks will be repaired and converted.

The US Ministry of Defense official reported that the first M1 Abrams tanks for the training of the Ukrainian military are planned to be delivered to Germany by the end of May.

According to American officials, about 250 Ukrainian servicemen will undergo special training. Some will learn to operate tanks, while others will learn to repair and maintain them. After the first 10 weeks, additional training can be conducted for Ukrainians, where more complex things will be practiced, namely fighting and maneuvers.

According to the official, the training of Ukrainian soldiers and mechanics will be conducted by American instructors from the 7th Army Training Command.